Disappointing effort from film maker Kathryn Millard as she enjoys on a self-indulgent journey into Adelaide in the early 1970's and the conflict between conservatism and the Age of Aquarius.
The film follows the struggle of Leanne (Miranda) as she shrugs off the stability of a career in teaching to explore her other talents, principally photography, and other alternatives to the straight and narrow.
Leanne is inspired to do this partly by a visiting American poet (Stiller) and also by the difficulties faced by her sister Bronwyn (Horler) in adapting to "normal" family life with her new husband. Other friends and family are also thrown into the mix.
The viewer gets the feeling that you had to be there (Adelaide in the early 70's) in order to enjoy the film. Had the film been written and produced better, then it would have had broader appeal.
Pia Miranda, who carries the dubious honour of being considered "second cab off the rank" behind Rose Byrne for the next actress to be picked up by Hollywood, put in a mediocre performance. She was upstaged by Sacha Horler, a little known Australian actress who shows great promise in this film.
The cuts from scene to scene were novel and one of the more interesting parts of the film.
Overshadowed by a bumper crop of great Australian films this year, Travelling Light is highly missable.
The film follows the struggle of Leanne (Miranda) as she shrugs off the stability of a career in teaching to explore her other talents, principally photography, and other alternatives to the straight and narrow.
Leanne is inspired to do this partly by a visiting American poet (Stiller) and also by the difficulties faced by her sister Bronwyn (Horler) in adapting to "normal" family life with her new husband. Other friends and family are also thrown into the mix.
The viewer gets the feeling that you had to be there (Adelaide in the early 70's) in order to enjoy the film. Had the film been written and produced better, then it would have had broader appeal.
Pia Miranda, who carries the dubious honour of being considered "second cab off the rank" behind Rose Byrne for the next actress to be picked up by Hollywood, put in a mediocre performance. She was upstaged by Sacha Horler, a little known Australian actress who shows great promise in this film.
The cuts from scene to scene were novel and one of the more interesting parts of the film.
Overshadowed by a bumper crop of great Australian films this year, Travelling Light is highly missable.